Tour 1: Sydney City Sights

This four hour coach tour is a perfect introduction for international visitors, designed to provide an orientation of the city and see some of the city’s key sights. Explore the vibrancy and style of cosmopolitan Sydney, one of the world’s most beautiful harbour cities. Discover colonial buildings and cobbled lanes in The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest historical precinct. Enjoy views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a waterfront seat carved into the rock for the wife of visionary colonial governor, Lachlan Macquarie. Travel through Sydney’s fashionable eastern suburbs, renowned for their elegant homes and harbour vistas, on the way to world-famous Bondi Beach – a haven for surfers and sun lovers.

During this walking tour of Australia’s oldest convict settlement – The Rocks, journey back to the 19th century when The Rocks was Sydney’s colourful commercial and maritime quarter. Groups weave through hidden narrow alleyways, along charming cobbled lanes and into shady courtyards, linger by quaint terrace cottages and visit a gothic church.

After exploring The Rocks, continue to the Sydney Opera House. Designed by controversial Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, the Opera House is an icon of Australia – not just for its unique design and spectacular setting, but for the world class program of opera, ballet, contemporary dance, theatre and classical music. Tour the auditoriums and halls and discover the myths and magic of the Opera House and the artists who have performed there.

Tour 3: Bondi Surf Experience

Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s and the world’s most famous beaches and the perfect spot to awaken the surfer within you! Enjoy a 2-hour introductory surf lesson.
Even if this is your first time around a board, the instructors will have you safely up and onto your first wave. You will surf in a small group. starting with important surf and safety rules and covering all the basics from warm-up to paddling, catching waves and standing.

What to bring: Swimmers and a towel.Price includes all equipment; surfboard, wet suit, rash vest and sunscreen.Departure point: The surfing experience is located on Bondi Beach (128 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi). You will need to make your own way to and from Bondi Beach. Bondi is approximately 20-30 minutes from the city, with an average taxi price of approximately AU$30-$40.Swimming ability: A lot of the lessons are held in waist-deep water but we do ask that you’re able to swim 50 metres (the length of an Olympic swimming pool).

Tour 4: Aboriginal Heritage Tour

Experience the world’s oldest living culture on a guided walking tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens and discover the richly diverse history and culture of the Aboriginal people of the Sydney region. Wrapped around the edge of Sydney Harbour, the Royal Botanic Gardens occupies one of Sydney’s most spectacular positions. This site was an important site for many of the Sydney Aboriginal clans, and home to the Cadigal clan. Experience the culture and food sources with an Aboriginal guide. Experience a traditional smoking ceremony and discover traditional uses of plants for food, tools and medicine.

Continue to the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a private guided tour, including a visit to the Yiribana Aboriginal Gallery. Learn about the Dreamtime in this excellent permanent collection celebrating the diversity of indigenous arts in Australia.

Tour 5: Whale Watching Cruise

From mid May to early December tens of thousands of Humpback Whales migrate along the coast of Sydney each year. Your cruise begins with all of Sydney Harbours famous sights such as the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Watsons Bay and many more on the cruise towards the entrance of Sydney Harbour. It is then out to the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean to witness these magnificent mammals migrate past Sydney’s famous beaches and rugged cliff lines in the biggest mass migration in the world. Then it’s a fast, comfortable ride back along the magnificent coastline to enter Sydney Harbour, seeing the sights of the harbour as we make our way back to the dock.

Tour 6: Australian Wildlife Discovery

Walk through a spacious, open koala enclosure and discover why the cuddly koala is one of the most loved and unique native Australian animals. The name is an Aboriginal word meaning “no water” – referring to the koala’s ability to meet its moisture requirements from a diet of gum leaves. Be photographed with a koala (at your own expense) and hand feed the free-roaming kangaroos. Meet other native animals including emus, wallabies, wombats and echidnas – at one of Sydney’s premier wildlife parks.

Tour 7: BridgeClimb

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is an exhilarating experience. Rendezvous at the BridgeClimb office for a safety briefing and prepare for your three-hour adventure! Accompanied by an experienced leader your small team will cross the catwalk to the pylon and walk up to the summit of the Bridge’s upper arch – 130 metres above sea level. Harnessed to a static line for the duration of the climb, be treated to spectacular 360-degree views across one of the greatest harbours in the world.

Discover where Sydneysiders escape to when they need to recharge their batteries. Enjoy an exclusive day exploring the ancestral lands of the Ku-ring-gai people, the magnificent bushland of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia’s second oldest national park, the beautiful waters of Pittwater and Broken Bay and the majestic coastline of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Gentle walks lead to the major Aboriginal ceremonial and rock art sites, surrounded by spectacular views over Broken Bay, Palm Beach and the Tasman Sea. Ku-ring-gai National Park has one of the highest concentrations of art sites found in Australia Take in breath taking views across Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland, the Hawkesbury River and beyond to the Pacific Ocean. If you are lucky you may also see wallabies, goannas or native birds in the wild. Departing from Ku-ring-gai National Park, travel down to the coast, stopping at the beachside area of Manly for lunch before returning to the city with more magnificent harbour views on the return journey. It is no surprise to the locals that many visitors rate this as their favourite experience in Sydney!

Tour 11: The Blue Mountains

Enter the Great Dividing Range of Australia and its majestic Blue Mountains as part of a small, private group and discover an ecological wonderland you may never have known existed. Spectacular scenery of this majestic World Heritage listed area includes sandstone cliffs, gorges and valleys of eucalyptus trees. Visit one of Sydney’s premier wildlife parks and enjoy a close encounter with koalas and feed the free-roaming kangaroos. Our early visit to the park ensures that the wildlife is at their most vibrant.

Discover the Aboriginal legend of the Three Sisters – giant sandstone rock formations in the Jamison Valley. This wonderland of sandstone outcrops, deep ravines and hazy blue eucalypt forests boasts stunning views and today your guide will take you off the beaten track to visit remote lookout locations and discuss the history, flora and fauna of this magnificent region. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant while overlooking the picturesque Megalong Valley. The afternoon is spent visiting a selection of lookouts. Once you clap your eyes on the view from Govetts Leap you’ll know why it’s one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. The magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 180m to the base of the cliff. If you’re not mesmerised by the dancing waves of water spray, you’ll be transfixed by the sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness.

Tour 14: Hunter Valley Wine Country

Travel inland to the picturesque Hunter Valley – Australia’s premier wine region. Visit a large established winery and a smaller boutique vineyard with experts who explain the wine-making process from vine to bottle. Savour award-winning Hunter classics including Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz and try the new generation Verdelho and Chambourcin varieties. Enjoy a delicious lunch, stroll through sun-kissed vineyards and learn why Hunter Valley wines are receiving worldwide acclaim.

AIPPI 2017 Running Club

The Conference Organizers have provided the AIPPI 2017 Running Club with a list of recommended running or walking routes within Sydney that AIPPI 2017 attendees and accompanying persons may elect to utilise during their stay in Sydney.

If you would like to view the suggested Running Tracks, please click here.

Please note, all attendees of the Congress and accompanying persons interested in participating in the Running Club must sign a waiver prior to participation. The waiver will be available onsite.

Tours General Information

Touring Terms and Conditions

These tours are designed by Arinex Destination Management (license No. 2TA001144), for participating delegates and accompanying persons attending the AIPPI 2017 Sydney World Intellectual Property Congress.

All sightseeing tours include informative English speaking commentary, all entry fees and meals where specified. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended for all tours. For any outdoor tours we recommend that participants bring sun protection cream, sunhat and sunglasses.

All tours are based on a minimum number of participants. If minimum numbers are not reached, alternative arrangements or a complete refund will be made. Places on all tours are limited and will be allocated strictly in order of receipt of payment. Where participants cancel their tour bookings prior to 28th August, 2017, payment will be refunded in full. Thereafter, no refunds will be made.

Disclaimer

The services specified in these tour descriptions are available at the time of writing. However, in the event that any service(s) become unavailable for any reason, Arinex Destination Management will make every effort to supply alternative services of an equal standard and value but cannot accept any responsibility for failure to provide the specified services.